The Dugout Discussion – Sunday

The curtains are drawn on Gameweek 30 with a trio of league clashes for Fantasy managers to pore over. Liverpool and Manchester United tussle for a top four spot in the early kick off, while Chelsea travel to Hull City as their title challenge continues apace. Everton look to build upon their victory over Newcastle last Gameweek when they face off against QPR.

The battle for a Champions League berth intensifies as Liverpool host Manchester United at Anfield in Sunday’s lunchtime kick-off. The Reds are unbeaten in 13 league encounters and have recorded seven clean sheets in nine outings. Three successive goalscoring displays from Jordan Henderson have dramatically elevated his standing within the Fantasy community, while Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge need to hit their stride to encourage further investment. Wayne Rooney has flourished as a lone striker for the visitors in recent weeks, notching three goals in as many starts. Rooney starts as both Liverpool and United are unchanged. Brendan Rodgers elects to keep Steven Gerrard benched while Angel di Maria returns from suspension for United but only makes the bench.

Later today, Hull City will go in search of their first win in four when league leaders Chelsea roll up to the KC Stadium. Although the hosts are without the injured Nikica Jelavic, the Blues will need to be wary of Tigers new boy Dame N’Doye, who’s netted in three of his four league starts for the club. Diego Costa made a timely return to the scoresheet last weekend ahead of Chelsea’s imminent double Gameweek, whilst Eden Hazard and Branislav Ivanovic could extend their respective points leads among their counterparts in the Fantasy Premier League rankings.

Down in West London, Everton arrive at Loftus Road to face a Queens Park Rangers side that’s lost eight of their last nine matches. Romelu Lukaku’s scored in the Toffees’ last three matches in all competitions, offering incentive for managers to observe the Belgian striker’s progress. Having come up short in his last two, R’s main man Charlie Austin is in the shop window once again as the R’s prepare for double Gameweek 31.